Stoner lifts the pace in FP2

The Ducati Team rider bounced back from a fall halfway through the session to set the fastest lap once more, ahead of Repsol Honda pair Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso in an action-packed hour.

Splendid sunshine and an ambient temperature of 25ºC (track 34ºC) greeted the MotoGP field at Indianapolis on Saturday morning for the second practice session, and Casey Stoner made the most of the superb conditions to set the best lap of the weekend so far.

A time of 1’40.331 on his final lap placed the Ducati Team rider at the head of the timesheet – as he was in Friday’s first session – after a complicated first half of the practice. Stoner first lost a knee slider which saw him disgruntled and limping when he returned to Pit Lane, and after half an hour he fell at turn six. However, his determination served him well and he finished the hour strongly and took just over half a second off his FP1 time.

At just 0.058s behind was Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa as he improved on his Friday time by just over a full second, with his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso hot on his heels in third and with a similar step up. Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) was fourth at fractionally over three-tenths off Stoner.

Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) was again the highest placing home participant, this time in fifth, and with his effort of 1’40.878 was the final rider under 1’41”. Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) prepared for the later qualifying session with the sixth best time, with Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) and Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) inside the top eight.

Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) set the ninth fastest time and had a non-consequential fall with 20 minutes remaining in turn ten. The Italian avoided injury and was back on track quickly, but his best time remained from his fifth of 29 laps and was 0.901s off Stoner’s marker. Aleix Espargaró (Pramac Racing) completed the top ten, with rookie Héctor Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar) 11th and escaping any mishaps when falling at the very end.

Two riders continuing their respective recoveries from injury were Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) and Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda MotoGP), and they placed 14th and 17th respectively.